UNL Libraries dean finalist to give presentation, meet with campus July 12

Nancy Busch
Nancy Busch

One finalist for dean of the UNL Libraries has been invited to interview for the position. The candidate, Nancy Busch, will deliver a public presentation followed by a reception at which faculty, staff, students and others interested can meet the candidate.

Busch, who has served as interim dean of the UNL Libraries since August 2012, will give her presentation from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, July 12, in the auditorium of the Sheldon Museum of Art. A reception will immediately follow, from 4:30 to 5 p.m.

Ellen Weissinger, senior vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, announced the internal search in a June 13 email to library faculty. Lance Perez, dean of graduate studies, led the search committee that recommended one finalist to Weissinger.

Busch has been a member of the UNL Libraries faculty and administration since 2003. Before she was named to the interim post, her responsibilities as associate dean included budget and personnel management, and supervision of staff development and diversity personnel. She was deputy director of the Nebraska Library Commission from 1989 to 2003. Busch has also directed the Panhandle Library System in Nebraska, was Gila County, Ariz., Library System director and has served in numerous other libraries and states, including service with the Peace Corps in Nicaragua.

Busch earned her master's in library science from the University of Iowa and a doctorate from the University of Michigan School of Information. She has taught master's and doctoral level research methods classes, and has experience in evaluation and assessment initiatives in public, academic and state libraries. Her doctoral research investigated recruitment and retention of rural public library directors in the United States.

Busch also is co-administrative director and chair of the internal evaluation team for UNL's National Science Foundation Institutional Transformation Project, which is working to integrate the structures to increase the number of women applicants for faculty positions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

For more information, those interested can call the Office of Academic Affairs at 402-472-3751.

-- Steve Smith, University Communications